Ellen Louise Thurston Byer, age 77, of 816 McCormick Boulevard, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at her residence.

She was born August 26, 1932 in Selma, Virginia, a daughter of the late Arthur Lee and Dorothea Persinger Thurston.

She was a retired registered nurse and a retired Director of Staff Education at Alleghany Regional Hospital, a member of Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge and a mother to everyone.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Byron Byer in 1997; a daughter, Gloria Jean Byer Topping in 2009; a granddaughter, Amy Suzanne Hawse; a niece, Susan Broughman Yopp and a nephew, Paul Andrew Thurston, Jr.

She is survived by five daughters; Joan Hawse and her husband Charles of Clifton Forge, Debra Byer and Erin Sullivan of Christiansburg, Annette Byer-McFadden and her husband, Larry McFadden of Covington, Anita McGuire and her husband, Bobby of Clifton Forge, and Joy Byer-Goad and Brian Rand of Clifton Forge; nine grandchildren, Melissa Fuller and her husband, Andrew, Emily (Beth) Hawse, Jonathan Hawse, Byron Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Clare Sullivan, Christopher McGuire, Scott Goad and his fiancee, Emelie Schwagerl, Bradley Goad; and three great-grandchildren, Rachael Phillips, Matthew Fuller, and Riley Spence-Goad.

Survivors also include two sisters, Atley Gray Broughman and Katherine Thurston Sheppard, both of Roanoke; five brothers, Arthur Lee(Bucky) Thurston and his wife, Mary Jean of Craig County, James Thurston and his wife, Barbara Ann, of Vinton, Randall Thurston and his wife, Judy of Roanoke, Paul Andrew Thurston and his wife, Lois of Eagle Rock, Joseph Thurston and his wife, Sue of Roanoke; two special nieces, Denise Craft and Tana Broughman; special friends, Ruby Scruggs, Bobbie Showalter Slusher, Denise Hayes, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and close friends.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Alleghany Memorial Park in Low Moor, followed by a memorial service being conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge. Both services will by officiated by Rev. Barry Burkholder and Rev. Mike Warren. Her family will receive friends any time at the residence of 816 McCormick Boulevard, Clifton Forge.

The Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge is handling the arrangements.